Memorial Coliseum Mid Century Architecture Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

This Saturday June, 19th 2010 at the Architectural Heritage Center, there will be a program discussion on identifying significant mid century architecture and ways to protect these structures.

From the Architectural Heritage Centers website:

Buildings and residential enclaves from the mid-twentieth century are reaching and surpassing the 50 year mark, making them widely eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Yet preservationists still face a number of challenges, even when advocating for buildings that can now be recognized as officially “historic.” Development pressures, the economy, and aging infrastructure—along with widespread misconceptions about the role of modern architecture in the U.S.—put these resources at risk in the Northwest and throughout the country. The recent discussion surrounding Memorial Coliseum brought this to our own backyard. We look at this debate as a new opportunity for our community to discuss Portland’s architectural “recent past” and work to identify the significant buildings and landscapes that make that era—and our region—unique and memorable.

But many Mid-Century Modern buildings are not highly visible icons like the Coliseum; there are office buildings and churches, commercial structures and houses that remain undocumented and unprotected. Local and regional architects, builders, and property owners themselves chose to adapt national trends to shape a Portland and Oregon mid-century “identity” that was and remains distinctly different from preceding styles and trends. There is a critical need to identify, appreciate, document, and preserve many of these buildings before they disappear, or are discarded as “unimportant.” Improving public awareness, addressing policies for preservation, promoting sustainable re-use and restoration and supporting grassroots advocacy will be necessary, if we are to save our own architectural past.

This mega-program will be led by Christine Madrid French, Director of Modernism + Recent Past Program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Anthea Hartig, Director of the National Trust’s Western Regional Office, in San Francisco. They will be joined by a cadre of local advocates who continue to call attention to and advocate for the Mid-Century Modern buildings in our community.

The event is from 10am-4pm, costs $20, and lunch is provided. If you would like to attend, you must RSVP here.

George Perrou - retro modern art

I have had the opportunity to attend two of Portland artist George Perrou’s openings at the fabulous Elroy Art Space. The first show was his “Dreams of Eames” opening and just last weeks “Shipwrecks of Sparta” opening.  Perrou’s work is inspired by mid century animation, colors, decor, art and life.  Perrou’s method is unique in that he uses tape (as one time stencils) and a knife to create the sharp , overlapping lines on his canvases.  The contrast of vibrant background colors with the sharp geometric images draws you in and gives one the overwhelming sense of nostalgia for the days when you spent endless hours in a different world with The Jetsons.

George Perrou - retro modern art

You can view more of Perrou’s work (and buy it) through the Elroy Art website.

Also, here is the OPB Oregon Art Beat feature on George Perrou.

George Perrou - retro modern art

Mid Century related posts/pages:

• Mid Century Modern Homes
• Mid Century Modern Home Furnishing

Saul Zaik

Part 3 of Rejuvenation’s Conversations with a Modern Architect series is tomorrow night at the Portland showroom.  This time it is legendary architect Saul Zaik in the hot seat being interviewed by Becca Cavell of THA architects.  The event starts at 6pm and there is a recommended donation of $20 to the Street of Eames benefit that funds after school programs for homeless youth.  RSVP here

About Saul Zaik (from the Rejuvenation site):

Saul Zaik began practicing in 1956 with partner Donald Blair and later established Zaik/Miller with Jim Miller. In the early days the firm mostly focused on residential work, but it later expanded its portfolio to include public buildings such as financial and educational institutions. In the 1950s and 1960 Zaik/Miller Architecture firm was well-known for its strongly regional residential designs. Notable restoration projects include: Timberline Lodge, Crater Lake Lodge and Vista House at Crown Point. Saul Zaik is still practicing today.

Bud Oringdulph - BOORA

Rejuvenations Street of Eames fund raising series of conversations with modern architects kicks off  at the end of this month. The first architect up is Bud Oringdulph, co-founder of the Portland based firm BOORA.

An important, actively practicing member of Portland’s architecture community, Bud Oringdulph graduated from the University of Oregon School of Architecture in 1956. Two years later he co-founded the successful Portland-based firm BOORA Architects- well known locally and internationally for its public buildings, including schools, libraries and art centers. Oringdulph cites Robert Ansen, A. Quincy Jones, and Frederick E. Emmons as influential contemporaries, and he singles out Seattle-based architect Paul Hayden Kirk as a major influence on his local residential work.

The event is on Wednesday April 28th, 2010 starting at 6pm with wine and hors d’oeuvres served. There is a suggested donation of $20 that will benefit the Street of Eames after school programs for homeless youth.

RSVP for the event here (they do sell out).

Info from Rejuvenation site.

Verner Panton chairs manufactured by Herman Miller in September, 1974, in vibrant orange molded plastic.

Danish Modern Living Room Set

convertible sofa bed by Hans Wegner (not sure how long that sale was going)

The other I day I was out and about picking up flyers from the printers, there were no parking spaces in the usual vicinity, so I had to park a couple of blocks away. I jumped out of the car and saw a small a-frame reader board that said “mid-century modern furniture” and had an arrow pointing up.  I looked up and saw a door to a narrow staircase, so I decided to pop in to see what they had.  What I expected to walk into was a 1,500 – 2,000 sq. ft. space with a couple of overpriced pieces that were more intended for an e-bay sale. What I walked into, after the couple of flights of stairs, was an 8,000 sq ft warehouse packed full (not uncomfortably) of amazing Danish mid century modern furniture in great/excellent condition. Rooms full of Eames chairs, mid century credenzas, sofas, it goes on for quite a while (and so could I). I was not completely shocked by the pricing, it was what I expect to see this type of furnishing in this type of  condition, and when I was there they were having a 20% off of everything sale.  I met one of the owners and they told me they had been there for awhile but are only open Fri. – Sun. (they actually do a lot of their business on-line), check their site for hours and stop by if you can, it is breathtaking.

Look Modern is located at:

800 SE Clay

Portland, OR 97214

Let’s go on a little road trip:

First we head north to Seattle, WA where Benjamin Allison shows us Seattle’s most amazing modern architecture at his site Jet City Modern.

Jet City Modern - Seattle, WA

Now, let’s head south and visit MCM superman Paul Kaplan from Palm Springs, CA.  Paul has his fingers to the pulse of all things MCM in California and beyond.

Palm Springs MCM goodness via Paul Kaplan

Heading east, we hit Boulder, CO where Sean McIllwain gives us front row seats to the modern home catalog in this beautiful city at his Mod Boulder site.

modern homes in Boulder, CO (this is their office)

Now, let’s take a turn to the south and head to our sister city (I have personally adopted her) of Austin, TX where Ben of Modern Austin gives us all of the modern goodies that Austin holds.  This site is really pretty and has a lot of good info about the architects and design.

Modern Austin, TX

Thanks for taking the trip with me, I hope you enjoyed it.  I will be on the lookout for more modern sites to feature so if you know of any good ones, drop me a line.

Cheers!

The Original Dinerant ~ Portland Oregon

I know the word “dinerant” isn’t really a word but the term fits this modern vintage replica restaurant perfectly.  The Original Dinerant, designed by David Ashen of D-ASH Design (NY), combines the sophistication of mid-century Palm Springs with the casual feel of the classic American roadside diner.  They have an interesting menu with a VooDoo Doughnut burger (yes, instead of buns, doughnuts!), poutine (I had to look this up but it is a standard in Canada), and some of the best breakfast around.  I had the biscuits with the best veggie gravy I have had yet, that was served with a baby field green salad and loved it all!  They serve Stumptown Coffee and the flourescent lit, multi-tiered, rotating dessert case (every diner has one) as you enter boasts the tallest carrot cake and thickest pies around.

The Original Dinerant is located at:

300 SW 6th Ave

Portland, OR 97204

back of the double gabled Gresham Rummer *Not For Sale*

A little while ago I stumbled across a very entertaining blog about a family (the Lewis’) from Gresham restoring/remodeling their Rummer home.  They do not make it look fast or easy but it is very entertaining getting to take a peek into their remodeling projects and the outcome is always amazing, they do such a great job! Another thing that I love about the Lewis’ blog is that the entire family is excited about their home projects, they make it feel like the home is a family member and not just a place to live.

So after I had devoured all of the blogs contents, I contacted Steve and Haley and invited myself over to tour and get a first hand look of their restoration project.  When I visited they had zero kitchen, it was gutted to the studs (very brave).  Haley took me on the tour and explained all of the pretty, clean lines they are going to open up throughout the home, to take it back to the way it was intended to look (& then some).

The kitchen design is influenced by case study home #22.  Here is the plan:

kitchen plan, modeled after case study home #22 - (photo by the Lewis')

case study house #22 - photo by Julius Shulman

Update: Since I have visited, the Lewis’ have put the kitchen back together.  Pics here!  It is amazing, thanks for sharing it with us.

P.S. can’t wait to see what they do with that ‘56 Airstream Safari aka Plan B

Gresham Rummer holiday ~ beautiful! (photos by the Lewis')

For a list of all of the Rummer homes for sale in the Portland area visit the Rummer page where I will update listings as they hit market.

More Rummer Related Blog Posts:

• Rummer Mid Century Modern Home – Bonnie Brae
• Rummer Neighborhood – Oak Hills
• About Rummer Homes
• Rummer Page

Julius Shulman 3 volume book - $300

If you haven’t seen Visual Acoustics yet, get thee to an indie theater and do so.  If you have seen it, then you will most def want these books (photos is a link to the site where you can buy this for me your loved ones).

Frank Lloyd Wright Lego Set - $99.99

Build it yourself Falling Water Lego set.

subscription to Atomic Ranch Magazine

The Atomic Ranchers are based in Portland so you can boast a decent ” I shopped local” with this gift. Great design ideas for the MCMers.

George Nelson Bubble Lamp Calendar 2010 - $9.95

The George Nelson Bubble Lamp calendar for 2010. Full of vintage bubble lamp ads.

Eames View Master Reels - $35

Photos of the Eames’ Case Study House #8 in View Master fashion (photos taken by the Eames’ themselves). Pretty much everything else on this website would make an awesome gift too.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday! Enjoy everything and everyone.

“What good is a dream house if you haven’t got a dream?” -Julius Shulman

Please share your own ideas if you have them, thanks!

Belluschi House Built in 1951 - Lake Oswego, Oregon

Historic Lake Oswego House to Find a Home at Marylhurst University

Rare residence built by famed architect Pietro Belluschi will come to campus

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — A small but historically significant home designed by noted Portland architect Pietro Belluschi will be kept in Lake Oswego, now that the Marylhurst University board of trustees has endorsed a plan to give the house a permanent home on the Marylhurst campus.

The agreement comes nearly three years after Tim Mather, owner of MCM Construction, and Tia Ross, a fellow historic homes preservationist, discovered a 911-square-foot home designed in 1951 by Belluschi for Arthur and Lucy Griffith of Lake Oswego was about to be demolished, and began a campaign to save it.

The home was believed to be one of only a few Belluschi-designed residences still standing unaltered, and the only one of its kind in Lake Oswego. The Italian-born Belluschi was involved in the design of an estimated 1,000 buildings over his 50-year career, including the Portland Art Museum, the Julliard School of Music in New York and St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. He is widely known as the creator of the Northwest style of architecture, and his homes were constructed to take advantage of their natural surroundings and available light.

“The house is a perfect example of the elegant simplicity of Belluschi’s mid-century modernist approach to design,” said Mather. “It’s truly a work of art and, fully restored, will be a lasting reminder of Belluschi’s architectural legacy.”

The home is essentially one large room, featuring cork floors, hemlock paneling and beamed ceilings. Never remodeled, it had fallen into disrepair, needing a new roof and heating and electrical systems. The home was purchased by developer George Hale, who recognized the house’s intrinsic value but couldn’t find a suitable reuse for the structure until Mather and Ross interceded. Hale donated the home, and Mather paid for it to be meticulously deconstructed and stored. The house – now in 2,000 pieces, all numbered and measured – sits in a 48-foot storage container awaiting reconstruction and restoration.

“I am so pleased that Marylhurst will become the home of this noted piece of 20th-century architecture,” said Judi Johansen, Marylhurst University president. “The educational opportunities the Griffith house at our new Belluschi Pavilion will provide for our students and for the broader community are countless, and I look forward to working with Tim and his colleagues on all the next steps of restoring this home to its full beauty on our campus.”

Fundraising efforts are now underway to pay for the costs of siting, permitting, reconstructing and restoring the Belluschi house. Contact David Miller - Friends of Belluschi 503-699-9600 dave@mcmbuild.com to donate to the preservation effort.

About Friends of Belluschi

Friends of Belluschi was founded in 2006 by Tim Mather, Tia Ross and other home preservationists to save and restore the Griffith residence designed by Pietro Belluschi in Lake Oswego in 1951.

About Marylhurst University
Marylhurst University, a private liberal arts university located one mile south of downtown Lake Oswego on Highway 43, is regionally accredited and nationally recognized for innovation and academic excellence. Marylhurst’s small, seminar-style classes – offered weekdays, evenings, weekends and online – provide convenience and flexibility for students with busy lives seeking professional certificates and undergraduate and graduate degrees

Belluschi

Belluschi House Oregon

More Preservation Stories:

• Frank Lloyd Wright – Gordon House
• Robert Oshatz – Organic Architect